Rathole digger



y 1952 c. M. JEFFRIES EIAL f 2,596,774

. RATHOLE DIGGER i 7 Filed Feb. 11, 1947 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inveliborsczmde, uk ries 7 112 E, .sclzeig.

I I Af'i'urlzey y 1952 c. M; JEFFRIES ETAL 2,596,774

RATHOLE DIGGER Filed Feb. 11, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Claude M. kffrisFritz E Sckeig' Ai'borlzey C. M. JEFFRIES ETAL RATHOLE DIGGER May 13,1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. '11, 1947 Ira suitors Claude MkffriesFrpli; E. Seize 55 M y 1952 c. M. JEFFRIES ETAL 2,596,774

RATHOLE, DIGGER Filed Feb. 11, 1947 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .1 54' j L J.--'ilr ZJ'TZF} ill Inventors Claude M kffries EH12 E. Sckeig.

Patented May 13, i952 RATHOLE BIGGER Claude M. J eflries and Fritz EarleScheig,

. Pampa, Tex.

Application February 11, 1947, Serial No. 727,870

Claims.

This invention relates to a rotary drilling accessory and particularlyto a rotary drilling rig used to drill or dig a hole in the ground nextto an oil well for storing the rotary Kelly joint or drill stem of astring of drill pipe in the oil well.

Heretofore, operators of rotary rigs to drill or dig such a Kelly jointstore hole or Rat Hole as it is commonly called, slide the rotary drilltable across the derrick floor to a position above where the Rat Hole isto be drilled, raise up one side of the table to a desired angle andthen provide a power take-off connection by running a drive chain fromthe source of power or draw works to a special line shaft and from thisshaft to the rotary table. On some draw works there is a specialsprocket on a jack shaft that enables a chain drive to be run directfrom the draw works to the rotary table in its moved over position.However, by either process the rotary table must be moved out of itsregular position, and entails time and extra manpower.

The principal object of this invention therefore is to provide as anarticle of manufacture, an accessory for oil well drilling rigscomprising a separate hole digger for digging or drilling'Kelly jointstore holes or Rat Holes so that the main rotary drill table may be leftin its regular position, whereby much time and labor is saved.

Another object is to provide a Rat Hole digger constructed to fit theusual standard Kelly bushings or couplings used to connect with the'usual Kelly joint.

' A further object is to provide in combination with a novel Rat Holedigger, a novel quick attachable power take-off drive means adapted tobe drivably connected with the rotary part of the hole digger, tothereby rotate the Kelly drilling members mounted in the Kelly drive ofthe digger.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description when read with reference to theseveral parts and combinations of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a general perspective View of the floor of an oil wellderrick and rotary table with our novel power take-off sprocket insertedin the Kelly drive thereof with our novel Rat Hole digger in drivingconnection therewith.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the power take-off sprocket andshaft with a partial cross section view of the table, showing how thesame is mounted therein.

Figure 3 is a cross section view of the fixed base portion of thedigger.

Figure 4 is aside elevation partly in cross section of the digger withthe parts assembled and ready for the insertion therein of the usualKelly drill members.

Figure 5 is a cross section view of the driven sprocket carrying part ofthe digger.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the part shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a top plan in elevation of the split Kelly drive socketadapted to be driven from the driven sprocket carrying part shown inFigures '5 and 6.

Figure 8 is a cross section view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7, of theKelly drive socket.

Figure 9 is an elevational view of one half section of the Kelly drive,showing one of the clutch projections or lugs adapted to engage with andbetween similar lugs on the sprocket carrying part.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view of one side of the digger with the Kellydrive removed to show the bearing mountings between the rotary sprocketcarrying part and the fixed base or outer shell of the digger.

Referring in detail to the drawings and first with, particular referenceto Figure 1, there is 'shown the derrick floor I 0 of an oil wellderrick This table is revolved by the usual power source or draw works,not shown. Centrally located in the table II is the usual opening forreceiving drive bushings for connecting with the Kelly joint, not shown.In place ofthe usual Kelly joint there is mounted in the table openingI2 a sprocket shaft I4 having a round plate I5, which fits in thetapered opening I 2 in table 'I I. This is shown in more detail inFigure 2 and also includes a relatively larger square plate I 6 machinedto fit in the square part of opening I2 in the top of the table I I.Keyed or welded on the end of the sprocket shaft I4 is a sprocket wheelI8 connected with an endless drive chain I9.

The drive chain I9 connects with another sprocket wheel 22, which iscarried by the driven part 23, see Figures 5' and 6, of our novelaccessory drill rig for drilling or digging Kelly joint store holes orRat Holes. This digger or drilling unit comprises a hollow shell 24supported on a base 25 and extending at an oblique angle therefrom andalso oblique to the plane of the derrick floor to which the base isattached by bolts 26. This angle or tilt of the base serves to direct orpilot the drill pipe into the ground at a slant, so as to drill aslanting store hole or "Rat Hole, asit is commonly called in the oilcountry.

2,596,774 f I" i The driven part 23 is telescopically mounted in theupper portion of the larger shell 24. This driven part 23 comprises ahollow body with a flange 29 around its top edge having sprocket teethformed on its peripheral edge, clutch lugs 30 and 3| on its top surfaceand an annular bearing groove 32 formed in its under surface. The loweredge of the driven hollow body 23 is formed with threads 34, to havethreaded thereon the ring 35 which is located within the shell 24 belowthe lower one of a pair of spaced annular projections 36 and 31, whichform a roller race for roller bearings 38. Above this race is anotherrace similar thereto for roller bearings 39, which bearings serve tojournal the driven part 23 in the shell 24 for rotation therein whendrive is imparted to the sprocket 22 from the 3 chain I9.

The upper rim of the shell 24 has a bearing groove 40 similar to thebearing groove 32 in the under side of the flange 29; and is positionedso that the grooves come togetherv when the driven part 23 is in placein the shell 24, to thereby provide a bearing race for ball bearings 4|.To protect the ball bearings 4| from foreign matter, such as sand, thereis a metal hoop 42 mounted around the shell 24 by bolts 44 with an innerring of flexible packing material 43, such as felt; so that the upperedge of the felt ring is in frictional contact with the under surface ofthe flange 29 just outside of the bearing grooves, see Figure 10'forthis detail. Also,

the roller bearings 38 and 39 may be lubricated by Alemite fittings 46and 41, which extend into the bearing races from outside the shell 24,as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The hollow driven part 23 in turn mounts a Kelly drive 50 formed in twohalves 5| and 52. These half sections when put together form a closedhollow body with an outer cylindrical lower skirt portion 53 topped byan annular flange 54. Above the flange the interior bore of the drive 50is substantially square to drive the Kelly drive bushings, not shown,connected to the -usual kelly, likewise not shown. Insertion of theKelly drive sections 5| and 52 is facilitated by the pick-up handles 55and 56 carried by each section. When the Kelly drive 50 has beeninserted in the driven part, it appears as shown in Figure 4. Mounted onthe underside of the flange 54 of the Kelly drive are clutch lugs 58 and59 similar to the clutch lugs 30 and 3| on the top side of the flange 29of the driven part 23. These 'lugs30, 3| onthe part 23 and 58 and 59 onthe Kelly drive 50 are spaced and proportioned so as to fit between eachother to provide a clutch drive connection between the driven part 23and the Kelly drive 50.

We have in the foregoing description referred by reference numeral toeach constituent part of our accessory drill rig and although theoperation should be obvious from the description, we will brieflysummarize its operation. For example, assume it is desired to drill ordig a store hole for a Kelly joint or the like. The first step is toremove the oil well drill pipe from the Kelly drive |2 of the table IIand insert in place thereof the sprocket l8 and its shaft l4. Then aftersecuring the accessory drill rig shell 24, with the driven hollow body23, to the jderrick floor l over an opening therethrough to the ground,the-Kelly. drive D-is inserted in the shell and the sprocket I8 isconnected with the sprocket 22. Next a Kelly joint is mounted in thedrilling rig 4 and power is supplied to rotate the table H and sprocket22.

As sprocket 22 is revolved the engaging clutch lugs of the driven part23 and the Kelly joint 50 will rotate the Kelly joint to drill the hole.Usually these holes are drilled to a depth of about 30 feet and at anangle, this angular pitch of the hole being provided by the tilt of thehollow base 24 of the accessory drilling rig,

Thus we have provided a novel article of manufacture which can be soldas an accessory to all standard oil well drilling rigs for digging ordrill ing the necessary Kelly joint-store hole or Rat Hole. Also, thisaccessory is simple and economical to use and manufacture, and savesmany hours of labor as hereinbefore explained.

While we have given a specific illustration of our novel device, it isto be understood that we -do not intend to be limited to the specificdetails thereof, and other variations in the parts and the combinationsthereof which will now appear to others skilled in the art are-to beincluded in the scope of our invention. To determine the scope of ourinvention reference should be had to the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. Means for drilling a hole to store a Kelly joint or the like,comprising a hollow shell fixed to the derrick floor of an oil well,bearing members around the inner circumference of said shell, a drivenpart rotatably journalled in said shell, a flange carried by said drivenpart, means for applying rotary driving power thereto, a bearing groovearound the underside of said flange, said groove registering with asimilar groove in the top rim of said shell to form a bearing racebetween said driven part and said fixed shell, spaced lugs on theupperside of said flange, and a drive bushing having a flange around itsouter circumference with spaced lugs adapted to fit between said lugs onsaid flange of the driven part, whereby the drive bushing is rotatablewith said driven part when power is applied to said flange.

2. A rotary drilling rig for drilling Kelly joint store holes comprisinga fixed hollow member having a base secured to the derrick fioor of anoil well, a driven member journalled for rotation .in said fixed member,means for retainingv said driven member in said fixed member, .a flangecarried by said driven member, clutch lugs on the upper surface of saidflange, a drive bushing telescopically mounted in said driven member,clutch lugs carried by said drive bushing adapted to fit between each ofthe clutclilugs on said driven members flange, and means forestablishing a driving connection between the regular rotary drill tableof an oil well and said driven member and said drive bushing.

3. The drilling rig as described in claim 2, wherein the drive bushingcomprises two half sections adapted to telescopically nest within thetop of said driven member, each of said sections having handle members.

4. An accessory drilling rig for drilling holes in the earth inclined tothe vertical to store Kelly joints or the like, comprising an uprightrounding flange having a raceway in its under surface for coaction withthe last mentioned bearing raceway, bearing balls within the coactingraceways, upstanding clutch lugs formed upon the top of said flangecoengageable with lugs carried by a drive bushing, a drive bushinginsertable in said cylindrical member, clutch lugs carried by the drivebushing coengageable with the lugs of said flange, and means coengagingand encircling the lower end of said cylindrical member and coengageablewith an element of the lower one of said pair of bearing races formaintaining the cylindrical member within the cylindrical base.

5. An accessory of the character described in claim 4 wherein said meansupon the lower end of the cylindrical member comprises a ring threadedupon the lower end of such member.

CLAUDE M. JEFFRIES. FRITZ EARLE SCHEIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,031,731 Patten Feb. 25, 19362,072,936 Zerbe Mar. 9, 1937 2,131,830 Ackerman Oct. 4, 1938 2,183,526Abegg Dec. 19, 1939 2,314,323 Alexander et a1. Mar. 23, 1943 2,321,245Reed June 8, 1943 2,522,795 Mitchell Sept. 19, 1950

